President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working closely with the private sector, describing businesses as the principal engine of Ghana’s economic growth and a key partner in delivering jobs and national development.
The President made the remarks on Wednesday when he hosted a delegation from the Kwahu Business Forum Advocacy Association, led by its President, Kwabena Adjare Danquah, and Chief Executive Officer, Felix Nyarko-Pong, at the Presidency in Accra.
Discussions focused on the outcomes of the 2026 Kwahu Business Forum, the government’s 24-Hour Economy Initiative and the Accelerated Export Development Programme.
President Mahama commended the Association for uniting around a shared vision of promoting entrepreneurship, investment and economic transformation.
“Every successful economy is built on strong partnerships between governments and the private sector. We all know that the government cannot do it alone,” he said.
He assured the delegation that his administration would maintain an open-door policy for the business community, stressing that sustained engagement with entrepreneurs is critical to driving economic growth.
According to the President, the private sector remains the country’s largest source of employment and is indispensable to efforts to absorb the growing number of young people entering the labour market each year.
“The private sector, if it is given incentives and the opportunity to grow, can absorb the legions of our young people who are being churned out of all levels of our educational system every year,” he stated.
President Mahama said government would continue creating an enabling business environment by restoring macroeconomic stability, strengthening the cedi, reducing interest rates, rebuilding investor confidence, improving infrastructure and eliminating unnecessary barriers that increase the cost of doing business.
He noted that his administration had made significant progress in stabilising the economy over the past one and a half years, arguing that businesses thrive only in a predictable and stable economic environment.
Highlighting the contribution of Kwahu entrepreneurs to national development, President Mahama described the area as one of Ghana’s strongest indigenous centres of enterprise, with businesses making significant contributions across commerce, manufacturing, transport, construction, hospitality, agriculture, finance and agribusiness.
He said the government’s objective is to help businesses in Kwahu expand beyond local success and become nationally competitive and internationally recognised companies.
The President also identified infrastructure as one of the biggest constraints facing businesses, pledging continued investment in roads, reliable electricity, water supply, digital connectivity and logistics.
“These are not luxuries for businesses. They are essential for growth and fundamental requirements for economic competitiveness,” he said.
On the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy Initiative, President Mahama encouraged members of the Association to participate in the programme, assuring them of incentives to support business expansion, reinvestment and job creation.
He added that the Accelerated Export Development Programme would complement the initiative by positioning Ghana as an export-driven and globally competitive economy.
For his part, Chief Executive Officer of the Kwahu Business Forum Advocacy Association, Felix Nyarko-Pong, commended the government for its plans to construct a bridge across the Afram River between Adawso and Ekye Amanfrom, describing the project as a major intervention that would unlock investment opportunities in the Kwahu Afram Plains.
